July 2007 Spotlight Interview

The spotlight interview for July is with Jay of the USS Stargazer, he is 31 years old and from New York City. He is an experienced chat player.

To begin with, please tell us about your game
I host the USS Stargazer. It started out as solely a chat simulation in March of 2000, and is still going strong. In June of 2005 we launched a "Night Shift" which is played on our Message Boards. This was done due to the overwhelming amount of applicants that were either PbEM or MB simmers, and a number of long time Stargazers who, due to real life commitments could no longer attend every chat game. The MB game runs in concert with the chat game, following the same linear storyline. They compliment each other well, even though it sometimes gets hectic.

You must have been playing a long time then?
I first discovered simming back in 1991 via AOL. I did a search for Star Trek and found StarFleet Online (later SpaceFleet Online). I checked it out and played in a couple of Academy Sims. A few weeks later I graduated and joined an Advanced game. I've been hooked ever since.

It took a while for my eyes to get used to the speed the chat was scrolling at, but I was exhilirated. I don't think I ever felt overwhelmed, just excited. I still feel that way most times, but I have to admit that there are times where my mind wanders, or I just feel a little too tired. That usually coincides with the warmer weather. I like to get outside and play!

So you prefer chat games?
I have always been a Chat player. I just love the instant gratification of the medium, and the pressure. The real time decision making really gets my blood racing and the brain working in overdrive. I've tried PbEM and I just couldn't really get into it. The "After Dark" (MB, message board) version of the Stargazer took a while for me to really get into, but with players that post as often as we require, there isn't much down time at all. So even though MB simming is not my favorite, at least in this game, it's a pretty close second.

With simming in general, what do you like the most? and the least?
What I like most about simming is that it brings together people from different places, backgrounds, age groups, lifestyles, cultures, etc. All in the name of a common passion. It's really the people and personalities that make simming great, not the game or the Host.

What I like the least? Well there is a lot of administration that needs to be done. Rosters, websites, reports, posts, maintenance, overseeing, etc. All of this is necessary in order to keep the new people coming in, but it gets tedious.

Is there anything that can be done to make simming better?
I guess I would love to see a place where simmers from all groups, genres, etc, could discuss their games and stuff. I think there is way too much isolationism in simming. Group and/or game leaders are just so scared that they will have their players "stolen" that they close themselves off from everyone else. It's sad really.

Please include names and URLs to your current games (and if you like, previous games):
Current Games
USS Stargazer
USS Stargazer: After Dark
Starfleet Academy

Past Games
USS Akira
USS Montana
USS Carolina
USS John C. Stennis

Who are your main characters?
My main character now was brought up in a Starfleet Family. His father was an officer in the Fleet before moving on to become an Ambassador to the Klingon Homeworld, where he was subsequently murdered. His mother is a Doctor who now teaches at Starfleet Medical. He has a younger brother and sister who are both new to Starfleet having only graduated a couple years ago. He also has two children with a beautiful Temporal Researcher. He is considering retiring due to this, as he can't have children on a warship, but also doesn't want to miss his children growing up.

Do you have any good stories or fond memories you would like to share?
Best mission/adventure?
Tough one, as we've done so many over the last 8 years. I guess my favorite would have to be the alternate future story. In it a few of the Senior Staff were dropped off for medical procedures as a result of the previous mission. While that was going on the XO took the ship to the Stellar Nursery where some big light show was to happen. The ship got caught in some kind of rift and found themselves more than 30 years in the future. A very bleak future, where Earth had been destroyed and the Federation overrun. For those that had not been on the ship, the 30+ years had been misery. The Captain and other surviving Senior Staff that were not on the ship were now old and nearly insane due to what had happened. The Captain wound up murdering Spock in cold blood, because he believed him a traitor. In the end, the Gazer got back in one piece and the timeline was restored. But one crewmember was given information that could potentially save us from that future. The name of the race that had been responsible for our annihiliation, after a disastrous first contact. Somewhat along the lines of the mimbari/earthforce first contact on Babylon 5.

Weirdest character?
Vex Xiang, he played a character we affectionately called "Squishy". Gelatinous and living in a water filled suit. He was also quite a flirt, and enjoyed hitting on all the pretty girls and some of the pretty boys too!

Funniest mistake?
Once I was playing a second character during the game, under an alias name. I got totally crossed up and was giving orders from the ensign's name, and carrying out the ensign's conversation from my Captain name. it went on for almost 5 minutes before my Co-Host IMed me in a panic. It was hysterical.

Hehe, that must have been funny to see!
Do you have any words of wisdom for a GM?
A GM must be flexible, but firm. Every player has a different personality and there isn't a "one size fits all" way to lead or motivate them. Get to know your players and find out what it is each one needs in order for them to get the most out of their experience. Let the players play, don't try to micromanage every aspect of the game. you'll be surprised at how great the story can be if you let them dictate where it goes! Just set a direction for them, and see where they go with it. But beyond all that, I will quote a good friend...."Above All, Have Fun.". Players can tell when their GM is actually having fun, and that's infectious. Enjoy your game, remember why you started playing it in the first place. Have fun, and your players will do the same.

Thank you Jay for answering our questions!